you learn you can keep nothing from me? Your face betrays your emotions easily and have since we were children. For Krono’s sake, try to avoid Quill as much as you can. He will see your plan as easily as I have.”
“That will not be a problem. He is avoiding me.”
“He will not admit it, but nearly losing both of us reminded him too much of the loss of his brother. He is struggling with processing what happened.”
“He told you this?”
“Sabrina did,” Krey said. “She is worried about you as well, you know. She said she asked you to come see her, and you have been making every excuse not to.”
I sighed. “Our queen is very clever. I worry she will…”
“Figure out that you are going to break your little female out of prison and live in the wilds with her?”
Krono, Krey really was good at reading me.
“I meant what I said, brother. When you need me, I will be there.”
I shook my head. There was no way I was letting Krey be involved in any of my plan. When I quit my position as head of the King’s Guard, Krey would take my place and he would do well. “I appreciate your support, but I am not planning on any type of prison break. You speak foolishly.”
“I often do,” Krey said. “Do you think the redheaded female would fuck me?”
I blinked at him. “What?”
“The redheaded female we rescued with your female. She is very pretty, and her breasts are incredible. Do you think she would be so grateful to me for rescuing her, that she’d spread those smooth thighs of hers and allow me to pleasure her?”
“I do not know,” I said. “She is still injured, is she not?”
“I ran into Sigan earlier this morning. She is starting to wake, he said. I would not be surprised if she is completely awake now.”
I immediately pulled away from Krey and headed toward the door of the training room.
“Where are you going, Galan?”
“To shower and eat,” I said. “I will see you later, brother.”
Instead of returning to my quarters, I headed to the infirmary. It was lunch and the corridors of the castle were mostly empty. It took me less than ten minutes to walk to the infirmary. I opened the door, stumbling to a stop.
Inara’s bed was closest to the door and I stared in surprise at Melu who was standing beside her bed. As I watched, he took a step back, the usual scowl on his face replaced by a look of utter shock.
“Please, will you consider it?” Inara was sitting up in the bed, her face flushed pink and her hands clasped between her breasts. “I promise I won’t back out of our agreement. Once she’s safe, I’ll have sex -”
“What you ask is… I mean, it is not…I cannot…” Melu’s face went dark green and he took another step back before glancing at the door. Guilt crossed his face when he saw me, and without saying a word, he pushed past me and left the infirmary.
Inara started to cry, and I hurried over and sat on the side of her hospital bed. “Human, what is wrong?”
“Nothing,” she said before scrubbing the tears from her face. “Um, hey, do you know where your friend Krey is? I need to speak to him.”
“About what?” I said.
“None of your business.” She swallowed hard. “I’m sorry. That was rude. Do you know where Sigan is?” She looked around the infirmary. “I need to leave.”
“You are not well enough to leave yet, human. I told you that.” Sigan had stuck his head out the door of his lab at the back of the infirmary.
“I feel fine. Please, I need to talk with Krey,” Inara said. “Sigan said I’ve been unconscious for two days and it’s almost too late and…”
“Almost too late for what?” I said.
Inara pressed her lips together. “Is Ellis okay? Did they heal her head?”
“Yes,” I said as Sigan disappeared into his lab again.
“Thank God. Can you, um, can you ask her to come see me?”
“She is at Iron Gate until the war ends and then she will be returned to Earth,” I said.
“What? She’s in prison? Why aren’t you just keeping her locked in her room here?”
“Because she stole a ship and convinced you to go with her. She endangered your life and as a breeding compatible female, you are incredibly precious and -”
“Oh my God.” Inara’s face had lost all its colour. “It wasn’t her idea, Galan. It